June 26th, 2009 by Hal Moses
The purpose of the thermostat in your vehicle is to regulate the temperature of the vehicle so that it remains at a desired level. To do this it controls the heating and cooling mechanisms and controls the flow of heat that goes throughout the system. The thermostat manages the coolant amount in the internal combustion engine. You will find a thermostat in any liquid cooled engine.
If you’re thermostat isn’t performing correctly it may be for a few reasons. First, if the water pump in the car is failing then the thermostat will be affected. The thermostat can also be affected if the engine is overheated or there is coolant leaking.
You should have your thermostat checked out by your mechanic regularly. It holds a key position in cooling your engine, so it should be replaced every few years.
Failing to replace your thermostat when it should be could give you additional problems, such as a knocking noise with acceleration, emission problems, and poor fuel-efficiency. Unfortunately, you never know when car problems will arise, which is why you should have your vehicle serviced regularly and purchase an auto warranty for peace of mind.
June 26th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Crossovers are becoming more and more popular with consumers. These are essentially Sport-utility vehicles that are put on car platforms. Crossovers give you the practicality of the minivan, with some of the capabilities of an SUV, all with a car’s efficiency. Consumers love their versatility, and there are many promising models to choose from.
The BMW X6 looks like a fastback sedan and satisfies the consumers who aren’t crazy about crossovers. It is shaped more like a car than an SUV, and is intended for use on the road, not off.
Ford is going to make a replacement for the Explorer, which is based on the concept of the Explorer America. It is going to be a crossover, but won’t be on a truck design like the current Ford Explorer.
Toyota has put out the 2009 Venza with great success. This vehicle is essentially a Camry wagon.
Mercedes-Benz has made a crossover effort with the GLK. This isn’t a small vehicle, although it is much smaller than the ML Class. However, this isn’t the best styling by Mercedes.
The time will probably come when motorists revolt against crossovers, just like they have done with station wagons and minivans. But, for now, crossovers are in high demand. However, like with any vehicle, make sure to purchase an auto warranty to protect you from costly repairs down the road.
June 25th, 2009 by Hal Moses
The poor economy is affecting more than the way people are driving. It is also causing some motorists to cut corners on auto maintenance and an auto warranty, which can come back to cost them more later and lead to road service calls.
Repair shops around the country are seeing business slow down. When customers are told they are due for their 30,00-mile service, they say that they are going to hold off for a while. Then they end up waiting until 40,000 miles to have it done.
This is due to the fact that people have taken a hit with the economy, causing maintenance repairs to take a backseat.
But, according to experts, avoiding maintenance repairs to save money will end up costing you more money, and safety, in the long run.
Roadside assistance calls are at an all time high because of this problem. Motorists are calling because their battery is out, or they haven’t’ changed their oil enough, or a tire has blown, and numerous other problems.
June 25th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Mercedes-Benz is known for offering consumers comfort at any price, and its new SplitView is a perfect example. This is an 8-inch GPS display screen, which is programmed for transmitting two images that are different- one for the passenger and one for the driver, at the same time.
The system is pretty technical, but basically the screen utilizes a masking filter that allows different images to appear when viewed from different angles.
For example, the driver can view directions or climate information while the front passenger views a TV show or DVD. Mercedes claims that it’s aware there is potential for distractions, so to alleviate this passengers watching a DVD can use headphones, as well as a remote control in order to lessen the distraction for the driver.
If you’re interested in the SplitView, it will be available in the summer of 2009, on the S-Class. Just make sure with any new technology that you have a good auto warranty that will cover you in case repairs are needed.
June 24th, 2009 by Hal Moses
If you ask a woman if she would like to buy a Dodge Viper, chances are she will say “noâ€. This car is a V-10 two seater that starts at approximately $80,000. Although this may not be a woman’s cup of tea, studies show that many men would like to have this car. Like many other aspects of life, men and women seem to have very different tastes, and cars are no exception.
Men and women buy the Viper, but 91% of customers are men. The Porsche 911 and BMW M5 are also cars being bought primarily by males. These models cost above $60,000. Studies show that men often equate their car with their image. In other words, they choose cars that will portray a certain status.
What cars do women like? The #1 choice is the Toyota RAV4. Women like to purchase small, affordable cars that are easy to buy. For example, the Saturn SC, SL, and ION are popular choices for women. These cars start at around $10,000 and have a reputation of being “no hassle†when it comes to buying.
It is obvious that women and men think very differently in lots of areas, cars included. Men like to buy the fast, impressive cars, whereas women purchase the inexpensive, small cars. The only common ground that these cars have is that they are backed by an auto warranty.
June 20th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Nowadays, it is a necessity to have a vehicle. Yet, everyone is not capable of purchasing a new car. Buying a used car is a great option in this instance, but sometimes it can be complex to arrange for funds. Used vehicle auto loans are a good answer to this problem.
The purpose of these loans is to provide you with financial aid for the purpose of buying a used car. Anyone can use these loans, regardless of credit score. In order to get a lone for a larger amount you need a secured loan in which you must offer collateral. An unsecured auto loan is sufficient if you just need a small amount of funding.
You can find used vehicle auto loans online. Thousands of lenders are available, and you can compare conditions and terms for the best rate. Doing it online accelerates the approval and you only need a few days to drag the necessary funds into your personal bank account.
There are many benefits to used vehicle auto loans. You aren’t discriminated against because of credit, it is a fast easy procedure, and you can choose any model and make. After finding your loan online, don’t forget to go ahead and compare rates for an auto warranty. You don’t want to face unnecessary repair costs down the road.
June 20th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Results from a recent study show that motorists who repeat buy the same car brand the most are owners of hybrids. By segment, the buyers who were the most loyal were those of full-size pickup trucks, which is a long held title.
The news about hybrids is quite significant because not all car manufacturers offer hybrid cars. Because of this, someone who purchases a Honda or Toyota hybrid will then choose that same brand for his or her next car purchase.
Owners of Toyota Prius’ purchased another Toyota vehicle 51% of the time, and approximately 25% of those people purchased another Prius. In comparison, those Toyota owners who had a non-hybrid bought another Toyota just 44% of the time.
Truck owners purchasing a new vehicle decided on another truck about 33% of the time, whereas hybrid owners only purchased another hybrid 25% of the time. The average rate of loyalty was 21%.
It is important to keep in mind that with any vehicle purchase, no matter what kind, it is necessary to purchase an auto warranty to protect your wallet. After all, you don’t want to find yourself paying unnecessary repair expenses down the road.
June 20th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Many people believe it is easiest to trade in your current car when buying a new one. However, is trading the right choice for you? There are some advantages and disadvantages to trading.
The big advantage to trading over selling is that you have very little hassle. You don’t have to haggle with buyers and you get rid of your car quickly. However, the fact is that you aren’t going to get as much for your car if you trade it in.
Any used vehicle has a specific retail value. If a dealership is going to sell that vehicle, they will have certain expenses, such as fixing dents and scrapes, cleaning it, and just overhead costs of running their business. Therefore, the dealership has to sell it for a little more than a private owner would.
Since dealers need to make a good profit on used vehicles, they purchase them for less than the retail value. When the dealership takes a trade in vehicle, they are essentially purchasing it from the new car customer, and at a price below the retail value. Essentially, this is called the trade in value.
Although trading in your car is easier than going through the hassle of trying to sell your car privately, you are going to get less money for your vehicle. If you sell your vehicle on your own, you can put the extra money you get towards important things such as an auto warranty and maintenance costs.
June 20th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Because of a full-size pickup truck market that is lagging and the challenge that diesel engines face in the U.S., Toyota has decided to put their plans for a diesel Tundra on hold.
There are several things that forced Toyota’s hand. First, there are technical challenges when it comes to making diesel engines that will meet the standards of federal emissions. Also, costs for diesel fuel are higher than many people are willing to pay right now. However, Toyota does believe it will come back to the idea when the economy improves and people become more interested in pickup trucks. For now, however, people are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles with a good auto warranty.
Instead of the Tundra, Toyota has decided to start production of a vehicle that is based on its concept of the A-BAT (Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck), which was seen at the 2008 auto show in Detroit. This was one of the favorite vehicles at the show and it has two fuel-efficient drivetrains.
June 19th, 2009 by Hal Moses
According to the Associated Press, Toyota has “secretly†started to develop a solar-powered car, even though the Japanese company has experienced its first year down after having positive growth for 70 years.
However, don’t get too excited yet. Perhaps the story that is the biggest here is the reason that the AP wrote about a potential solar car being created by Toyota. This isn’t any different than any other carmaker that has developed a prototype in the Research & Development department. Toyota is known for a reputation for its green technology that is cutting edge, and it will receive key expertise when Panasonic, its battery developer, takes in solar leader Sanyo later in the year.
The technology is there to build such a car, without a doubt. However, you have to ask, what sort of range is it going to have? Also, is there going to be anyone that will purchase a car costing $200,000 that will need to be recharged after 35 miles? One thing’s for sure; an auto warranty would be a good idea for a car with solar technology, such as this.
In other words, can a vehicle that is solar-powered be mass-produced and actually work for people’s lifestyles?